Cranking mechanism

Abstract

A cranking mechanism preferably includes a planetary gear, a drive shaft, a one way bearing, a clutch assembly, and at least one drive unit. The clutch preferably includes a clutch pressure plate, a flywheel, friction surfaces and at least one friction plate. Each drive unit includes a carrier, a spool and a flywheel. The one way bearing and the clutch assembly are axial on the drive shaft. A pressure locking nut is threaded on to a threaded end of the crank shaft to exert pressure on the clutch assembly. The sun gear is fixed on the drive shaft. The at least one drive unit is axial with the drive shaft, and fixed with the carrier of the planetary gear set. The pressure locking nut is tightened against the clutch assembly to frictionally engage the drive shaft with the at least one drive unit.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:
 a planetary gear set includes a drive sun gear, a plurality of planet gears in a radially fixed carrier, and a driven ring gear, said ring gear is rotatable axial said sun gear in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of said sun gear, a spool winding surface of a spool is coupled with said ring gear; 
 a drive shaft includes a first driven end and a second axially retained end, said sun gear is one of retained on or integrated with said drive shaft; 
 said carrier includes a plurality of axles to axially and radially retain said plurality of planet gears, said sun gear causes rotation of said plurality of planet gears within said carrier, said plurality of planet gears engage said ring gear, wherein rotation of said plurality of planet gears causes rotation of said ring gear and said spool winding surface in a direction opposite of said drive shaft; and 
 a strap includes a spool end, said spool end is fixed to a said spool winding surface of said spool, wherein rotation of said drive shaft winds an elongated connecting device on said spool winding surface; 
 wherein said cranking mechanism for a crossbow is one of built-in to said crossbow and removable from said crossbow. 
 
     
     
       2. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bowstring drawing device connected to said strap at an end opposite said spool end, said bowstring drawing device is one of those known in the art such as a sled, a hook, and a bowstring latch assembly. 
 
     
     
       3. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bowstring latch assembly retainment means coupled to the crossbow frame, said retainment means selectively retains said bowstring drawing device in a cocked position, or selectively releases said bowstring drawing device from the cocked position. 
 
     
     
       4. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle is retained on said first driven end of said drive shaft. 
 
     
     
       5. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ratchet gear is retained on said drive shaft, such that it does rotate relative to said drive shaft; and 
 an anti-rotation lever engages said ratchet gear such that said drive shaft rotates in only one direction, said anti-rotation lever is disengaged from said ratchet gear to allow rotation of said drive in both directions. 
 
     
     
       6. A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:
 a planetary gear set includes a drive sun gear, a plurality of planet gears in a radially fixed carrier, and a driven ring gear, said ring gear is rotatable axial said sun gear in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of said sun gear, a spool winding surface is coupled with said ring gear; 
 a drive shaft includes a first driven end and a second axially retained end, said sun gear is one of retained on or integrated with said drive shaft; 
 said carrier includes a plurality of axles to radially and axially retain said plurality of planet gears, said sun gear causes rotation of said plurality of planet gears within said carrier, said plurality of planet gears engage said ring gear, wherein rotation of said plurality of planet gears causes rotation of said ring gear and said spool winding surface in a direction opposite of said drive shaft; and 
 a strap includes a spool end, said spool end is fixed to a spool winding surface of said spool, wherein rotation of said drive shaft winds said strap on said spool winding surface; 
 a one-way rotation device only allows said drive shaft to be rotated in one direction unless said one-way rotation device is released; and 
 wherein said cranking mechanism for a crossbow is one of built-in to said crossbow and removable from said crossbow. 
 
     
     
       7. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a bowstring drawing device connected to said strap at an end opposite said spool end, said bowstring drawing device is one of those known in the art such as a sled, a hook, and a bowstring latch assembly. 
 
     
     
       8. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a bowstring latch assembly retainment means coupled to the crossbow frame, said retainment means selectively retains said bowstring latch assembly in a cocked position, or selectively releases said bowstring latch assembly from the cocked position. 
 
     
     
       9. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a tension nut is threaded on to said first driven end of said drive shaft; and 
 a handle includes a cavity to receive said tension nut. 
 
     
     
       10. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a handle is retained on said first driven end of said drive shaft. 
 
     
     
       11. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a ratchet gear is retained on said drive shaft, such that it does rotate relative to said drive shaft; and 
 an anti-rotation lever engages said ratchet gear such that said drive shaft rotates in only one direction, said anti-rotation lever is disengaged from said ratchet gear to allow rotation of said drive in both directions. 
 
     
     
       12. A cranking mechanism for a crossbow comprising:
 a planetary gear set includes a drive sun gear, a plurality of planet gears in a radially fixed carrier, and a driven ring gear, said ring gear is rotatable axial said sun gear in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of said sun gear, a spool winding surface of a spool is coupled with said ring gear; 
 a drive shaft includes a first driven end and a second axially retained end, said sun gear is one of retained on or integrated with said drive shaft; 
 said carrier includes a plurality of axles to radially and axially retain said plurality of planet gears, said sun gear causes rotation of said plurality of planet gears within said carrier, said plurality of planet gears engage said ring gear, wherein rotation of said plurality of planet gears causes rotation of said ring gear and said spool winding surface in a direction opposite of said drive shaft; 
 an elongated connecting device includes a spool end, said spool end is fixed to a winding diameter of said spool, wherein rotation of said drive shaft winds said elongated connecting device on said winding diameter; 
 a clutch is retained on said drive shaft; 
 a one-way bearing rotation device is engaged with said clutch, axial tension is applied to said one-way bearing and said clutch in a first direction through said driven end to wind said elongated connecting device on said spool; and 
 wherein said cranking mechanism for a crossbow is one of built-in to said crossbow and removable from said crossbow. 
 
     
     
       13. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a bowstring drawing device is connected to said elongated connecting device at an end opposite said spool end, said bowstring drawing device is one of those known in the art such as a sled, a hook, and a bowstring latch assembly. 
 
     
     
       14. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a bowstring latch assembly retainment means coupled to the crossbow frame, said retainment means selectively retains said bowstring latch assembly in a cocked position, or selectively releases said bowstring latch assembly from the cocked position. 
 
     
     
       15. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a tension nut is threaded on to said first driven end of said drive shaft; and 
 a handle includes a cavity to receive said tension nut. 
 
     
     
       16. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 12  wherein:
 said clutch includes a pressure plate and a friction plate, said pressure plate is engaged with said one-way bearing, said friction plate makes contact with said pressure plate and said spool. 
 
     
     
       17. The cranking mechanism for a crossbow of  claim 12  wherein:
 said driven end is rotated in a second direction to disengage said clutch to allow said elongated connecting device to be unwound from said spool, wherein rotation in said first direction re-engages said clutch and prevents unwinding of said elongated connecting device. 
 
     
     
       18. A method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device, wherein:
 a planetary gear set and drive shaft is operably coupled to a spool winding surface; a strap is operably coupled to said spool winding surface and to a bowstring latch assembly; 
 a bowstring latch assembly retainment means is coupled to the crossbow frame; the bowstring latch assembly engages and retains the bowstring; 
 a handle is operably coupled with the drive shaft; the crank handle rotates the drive shaft and sun gear a first direction winding the strap under tension onto the spool winding surface and moving said bowstring and bowstring latch assembly to a proximal position as to engage said bowstring latch assembly with said bowstring latch assembly retainment means; 
 a crank handle is rotated in a second direction releasing tension of the strap, said bowstring latch assembly retainment means retains the bowstring and the bowstring latch assembly in the cocked position; 
 to de-cock the crossbow or to cock a discharged crossbow, the crossbow the crank handle is rotated the first direction imparting tension on the strap, the user selectively disengaging the bowstring latch assembly retainment means from the bowstring latch assembly, then rotating the crank handle the second direction unwinding the strap from the spool winding surface, returning the bowstring latch assembly to the distal position of the crossbow. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 18  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 18  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing, a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 18  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing and clutch assembly operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
       22. A method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device wherein;
 a planetary gear set and drive shaft is operably coupled to a spool winding surface; 
 a strap is operably coupled to said spool winding surface and to a bowstring latch assembly; 
 the bowstring latch assembly engages and retains the bowstring; a handle is operably coupled with the drive shaft; 
 a crank handle rotates the drive shaft and a sun gear in a first direction winding the strap under tension onto the spool winding surface and moving said bowstring and bowstring latch assembly to a cocked position; and 
 to de-cock the crossbow or to cock a discharged crossbow, a user rotates the crank handle in a second direction unwinding the strap from the spool winding surface, returning the bowstring latch assembly to a distal position of the crossbow. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 22  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 22  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing, a ratchet gear and a pawl operably coupled with the planetary gear set. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of operating a crossbow and a planetary gear set crossbow cocking device of  claim 22  wherein;
 the crossbow cocking device includes a one-way bearing and clutch assembly operably coupled with the planetary gear set.